“Your perfume is making me nauseated.” He leans away from her. Her mouth falls open in shock. “I don’t want anything.” He cuts her a cold glare that has her darting off.
“You okay?” I’ve seen Arch stressed before, but this is different. This girl really does have him in knots.
“I don’t know.” He runs his hand through his hair. He’s a bit unhinged now that I take a closer look at him. “What are they even doing in there?”
“Going to go out on a limb and guess getting their nails done.” His glare shifts to me. Arch is always good at putting on a smile that puts people at ease. That’s not coming to him so easily lately.
I wasn't too happy either when I got back to my place at the club and Olivia was nowhere to be found. I texted her before I pulled up her location. Apparently Saturday nights are girls' nights. A handful of days, and I was already addicted to her being there when I left for work and came home.
“Fuck,” I mumble when a familiar truck rolls up out front of the coffee shop. My eyes lock with Olivia’s dad’s through the window. “Stay out of this,” I tell Arch before coming to my feet.
“He’s not a cop anymore,” Arch responds.
“No, it’s worse. He’s the one person that might be able to take Olivia from me. I don’t want to give him a reason. Well, more than he already has.” I push back from the chair when he gets out of his truck to come and stand on the sidewalk waiting for me to come out of the coffee shop.
I knew this was coming. I was only hoping I had more time. Why did Olivia have to be the daughter of the man who arrested me all those years ago? I should have known. Things have been a bit too easy for me lately.
“You can kidnap her later.” Arch shrugs.
“If it's that easy then why isn’t your girl locked away in your house?” I shout back as I make my way out of the shop, missing whatever it is he mutters under his breath in response. He should watch his ass too. Pretty sure the Hart family considers Vee a part of their family, which means she would fall under their protection too.
“Stay away from my daughter,” he says the second I step outside. I have to give it to the old man; he sure doesn’t mince words. I respect that.
“Do I have a rat somewhere in my crew?”
How the hell had he found out about us? I’m guessing Olivia hasn't told her dad. She’s already said he might have a problem with the two of us. She mentioned our ten-year age gap, but there is a whole lot more, and I think she knows that.
“You think I don’t keep tabs on my own daughter?” I can’t say that I blame him. Hell, I keep tabs on her ass now too.
“She’s a grown woman,” I point out.
“She’s a sweet girl. Innocent.”
Her innocence is still intact. Barely. I don’t know why I’ve been holding back, but I have been. I don’t want her thinking this is only about sex. It’s hard to keep my hands off her, but I’ve managed to keep my dick out of her somehow.
He takes a step toward me. I’m bigger than him now that I’m all grown up. Still, David Hart has kept himself in shape. I’m sure it comes with the job of being a bondsman.
“You might have a lot of pull in this town now, but I've got a lot of friends,” he warns.
“You really making that kind of threat?” I’m a bit surprised. Everything I’ve learned about David since Olivia came into my life pointed to him being straight as can be. I went digging to see exactly what I was up against. I couldn't help myself.
“That’s my baby girl. I’ll do whatever I have to.”
“I’m not the same kid that—”
“Don’t. I know who the Ravens are. You—”
“I’m not my father.” I cut him off this time.
“Why do you think you’re so different? Because you found yourself a gold mine? You still sell drugs.”
“It’s legal.” I try to hold on to my temper. It’s hard. This man is challenging me, but I remind myself what he means to Olivia. I try to think of my own mom and how she would react.
“That’s my point. You’d be into dealing all sorts of drugs if it weren’t for that mine. I’m talking about character.”
“You don’t know what you’re fucking talking about,” I growl back. This town is lucky I’ve kept other clubs from trying to work their way into it. I shut down all that shit and still they give me no respect.
“I know enough. She’s better than you. Deserves better, and you fucking know it.” I do know it. Yet that doesn’t change the fact that she’s mine.